Incinerator



26l/F.G.

2,387,345 10/1945 Pearl............................

2,643,105 6/1953 Lipowitzm 3,098,458 7/1963 Lantz,Jr,......................

3,306,237 2/1967 Ransom,Jr...................

Primary Examinerl(enneth W. Sprague Attorney-J. Wesley Everett and George L. Brehm ABSTRACT: A combination refuse incinerator and exhaust gas burning and scrubbing device having an incinerator section with a rotatable perforated drum for receiving the material to be burned, a fuel burner positioned to direct its flame against the drum and through the perforations thereof to dry and ultimately consume the material therein and an exhaust burning and scrubbing section receiving the exhaust gases from the incinerator and having fuel burners for consuming any combustible gases and scrubbing means in the form of water sprayers to remove any fine solid matter and soluble constituents therefrom.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 413,514 10/1889 Jarrell.............

United States Patent [22] Filed [54] INCINERATOR [51] Int.Cl...........

[50] Fieldot'Searc 1 1 a. 2.5.5, 'zitriitiin Patented Sept. 29, 1970 I 3,530,806

Patented Sept. 29, 1970 Shoot Ill VZB

8 6 I 7 mm ,INVENTOR VERNON D. BOWMAN II/III;

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Ono OAn n ATTORNEY FIGZ ' AGENT Patented Sept. 29, 1970 Sheet N m A M W 0 B m.

D N O N R E V AGENT Patented Sept. 29, 1970 Shoot INCINERATOR This invention relates to incinerators and more specifically to incinerators for consuming waste material such as trash and garbage and to such incinerators which are provided with means to purify the exhaust gases or combustion products by burning all combustible constituents therein and finally scrubbing the gases to remove all traces of dust, fly ash, smoke and the like so that only clean and non-injurious gases are released in the atmosphere.

In recent times, due to greater industrialization, the problem of air pollution has become increasingly serious, in fact, in some areas the problem has not only created conditions which are unpleasant to humans and are destructive of property but are actually harmful to health. Governmentsmunicipal, state and federal-have therefore become alerted to the dangers and have already exacted certain requirements and placed certain restrictions on industry and individuals especially in the field of smoke and exhaust gas control to reduce and, if possible, eliminate pollution of the atmosphere.

Applicant has sought to solve the problem by providing an incinerator in which a high intensity flame is played on a perforated revolving drum which contains the waste to be disposed of to first dry and then substantially completely consume the same and in addition by providing a scrubbing and purifying device which burns all the combustible material and ingredients in the exhaust products from the incinerator by utilizing a second high intensity burner and finally a steam and water bath to remove all solid material so that only inert gases are released into the atmosphere.

It is one object, therefore, to roduce a device of the character mentioned which will adequately and efficiently burn waste material without releasing objectionable and harmful fumes into the atmosphere.

It is another object to produce such a device which is simple in structure and efficient in operation and which will operate over long periods without special maintenance.

The above and other objects and advantages will become more apparent as this description proceeds and reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

In said drawings:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a combination incinerator and exhaust gas cleaning and scrubbing device according to my invention, the section being taken substantially on line 1-1 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 2 is side elevation of the same with the incinerator section shown in section, the section being taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the cleaning and scrubbing section of the device substantially on line 3-3 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the same with portions of the incinerator section broken away.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the device consists of two sections; that generally indicated A is the incinerator section, and that generally indicated B is the exhaust gas cleaning and scrubbing device located at one side of the incinerator.

The incinerator comprises a rotary perforated drum located in an enclosure or housing 11. The drum is rotatably supported on four rollers 12 mounted within the housing. The drum is rotated by a prime mover and reduction gearing 13 mounted on the exterior of the housing 1 1.

One or more burner members 14 mounted on the exterior of the housing 11 with its burner tube or gun l5 projecting through the housing and directed toward the perforated drum 10. As may be seen the drum is perforated with a multiplicity of openings 16 so that the flame from the burner will not only impinge against the exterior thereof to heat the same but will penetrate to the interior thereof and contact the matter contained therein.

One end of the drum is open at 17 and the housing 11 is provided with an access door 18 opposite the open end of the drum to provide for loading the material to be burned into the same. The access door 18 may be hinged or mounted for sliding movement in any manner desired.

A second door 19 is provided in the housing 11 and communicates with the space below the drum which forms an ash pit in the housing.

The incinerator functions as follows -the waste material to be consumed is loaded into the drum 10 through the access door 18. The drum is then rotated at a relatively low speed while the burners 14 play their flames thereon and through the openings 16 therein to dry and finally consume the combustible solid material therein. The rotation of the drum gradually sifts the burned ashes through the openings therein, which fall into the ash pit to be later removed through the ash pit door 19.

The housing 11 above the incinerator is dome-shaped or rounded at 20 over and along which the smoke and other products of combustion are carried by a swirling motion which further cause small particles such as fly ash to drop out over the drum and ultimately into the ash pit. The products of combustion are thence conducted through the port or passages 21 from the incinerator housing to the cleaner and scrubber section B.

The gases or products of combustion enter into the lower portion of section B which is dome-shaped at the top for a portion of its extent as indicated at 22 in the vicinity of the port 21 while the remaining portion is chimney shaped as indicated at 23, the two portions being separated by a baffle wall portion 24.

Fuel burners 25 and 26, the former in the domed portion and the latter in the chimney portion play upon the products of combustion and burn any combustible gases and small solid particles carried in suspension therein.

The gases are then carried upwardly into the scrubber portion of the section B.

The Scrubber is mounted on top of the chimney portion 23 and consists of a stack like housing 27 with flanged in upper end 28.

The housing 27 contains a number of baffles, the upper 29 and lower 30 of which are dome-shaped circular elements held centrally of the housing 27 and spaced from the side walls thereof by a number of radial support rods 31 and 32 fastened to the interior of the housing 27.

Intermediate baffles in the form of double cone elements 33 and 34 are mounted in the housing 27 between the upper and lower dome-shaped baffles 29 and 30. These baffles are likewise supported within the housing 27 in spaced relationship to the walls thereof similar to the dome-shaped baffles 29 and 30 by radial rods 35 and 36.

Sprinklers 37, 38, 39 and 40 are positioned centrally of the housing 27 between the upper and lower dome-shaped baffles and are designed to spray water outwardly and downwardly to impinge upon and around the two double cone baffles and the lower dome-shaped baffle. These sprinklers may be supplied from any source of water under pressure such as a tank 41 and pump through supply pipes 42.

Between the upper end of the chimney-shaped portion 23 and the scrubber housing 27 is a catch basin 43 formed by a plate 44 with an opening surrounded by an upstanding flange 45. The opening allows for passage of the gases from the burner chamber or chimney-like portion 23 while the space around the flange and the wall of housing 27 forms the basis for collecting water from the sprays 37, 38, 39 and 40. A drain pipe 46 is provided to carry the water away from the catch basin.

A motor driver blower 47 with its discharge tube 48 directed upwardly in the stack above the scrubber chamber may be employed to induce a draft through the incinerator and cleaner-scrubber if found desirable.

In addition a barometric draft damper 50 mounted in a lateral branch 51 in the stack to maintain a uniformly constant draft may also be employed.

The cleaner-scrubber section B of the device functions as follows:

Exhaust gases from the incinerator enter the burner portion of the cleaner through the port 21 and are there subjected to the burners 25 and 26 which consume all combustible gases and solid matter therein. They then rise through the opening in plate 44 and impinge upon the lower domed baffle 30 and are diverted and must pass around the same. From there they travel upwardlythrough and around the double conical baffles 34 and 33 and against the upper domed baffle 29 where they are again diverted and forced to pass around the same and from there out of the stack. The sprinklers between the upper and lower domed baffles subject the gases to a through washing and scrubbing action to remove substantially all soluble matter, fly ash and dust from the gases so that only completely clean and harmless gases are exhausted into the atmosphere.

I claim: 1. A combination incinerator and exhaust gas cleaning and scrubbing apparatus comprising:

a. a housing containing a rotatable perforated drum for receiving the material to be burned;

. power means to rotate said drum;

c. fuel burner means positioned to direct the flame thereof against the side wall of the drum and through the perforations thereof;

. said drum having an opening to provide access to the interior thereof for loading the material to be burned therein;

c. said housing having an opening therein to afford access to the opening in the drum;

f. a closure means for said housing opening;

g. an exhaust gas cleaning and scrubbing apparatus located adjacent said housing for said rotatable drum;

h. said exhaust gas cleaning and scrubbing apparatus comprising a cleaning chamber;

i. a port between said incinerator housing and said chamber for passage of the products of combustion from said incinerator housing to said chamber;

j. burner means in said chamber for consuming any combustible material in said products of combustion;

k. a housing extending above said chamber;

l. scrubbing apparatus in said housing for removing soluble matter and fine particles from said products of combustion; and

man exhaust means above said scrubber housing.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 in which said scrubbing apparatus comprises vertically spaced baffle means in said scrubber housing providing a tortuous path for the flow of the products of combustion through the housing, and water spray means in said housing directed against the products of combustion in their tortuous flowthrough and around said spaced baffle means.

3. The structure defined in claim 1 in which means is provided in said exhaust means to create a forced draft through said apparatus.

4. The structure defined in claim 2 in which said spaced baf fle means comprises upper and lower dome-shaped discs and vertically spaced double conical rings between said discs, and said water spray means comprises vertically spaced sprayer heads positioned to direct the spray downwardly against the lower dome-shaped disc and through and around said double conical rings.

5. A combination incinerator and exhaust gas cleaning and scrubbing apparatus comprising:

a. a housing containing a rotatable perforated drum for receiving the material to be burned;

b. power means to rotate said drum;

c. fuel burner means positioned to direct the flame thereof against the side wall of the drum and through the perforations thereof;

. said drum having an opening to provide access to the in terior thereof for loading the material to be burned therein;

. said housing having an opening therein to afford access to the 0 ening in the drum; f. an ex aust gas cleaning and scrubbing apparatus located adjacent said housing for said rotatable drum;

. said exhaust gas cleaning and scrubbing apparatus comprising a cleaning chamber;

. a port between said incinerator housing and said chamber for passage of the products of combustion from said incinerator housing to said chamber;

i. burner means in said chamber for consuming any combustible material in said products of combustion;

j. a housing communicating with said chamber;

k. scrubbing apparatus in said housing for removing soluble matter and fine particles from said products of combustion; and

i. an exhaust means for said scrubber housing. 

